Chapter Two

By the time she woke up the next morning, the strange man from the night before he disappeared leaving a note that read,

"It's dangerous inviting strangers into your home princess, but thanks for the treatment and I hope you like the breakfast see you soon"

Just as she had finished reading the note the doorbell rang thinking it was her roommate who had left her keys in the apartment again. Leah went to open the door with her bed hair and pyjamas.

As she pulled the door open, she saw a middle-aged man dressed in a black button-up shirt paired with black pants and dress shoes, he had a black apron tied around his waist and a tiny scar on his left side eye

"Good Morn… " She didn't allow him to complete the greetings as she shut the door and ran back to her room changing out of her bum shorts and a crop top into something more decent before going back to the door, she composed herself and put on a smile as he opened the door once again to see the man still standing by the door.

"Good morning" he greeted once again maintaining a stoic indifferent face as he stretched out both hands holding two large brown paper bags.

The scent of freshly baked goods wafts into her nose making her mouth water and her stomach grow in hunger.

She let out an embarrassed chuckle "Sorry for my bad manners from earlier, I wasn't as decent, as I had thought It was my roommate at the door" she apologised

"That's fine, may I come in?" he asked casually, his voice polite as he maintained eye contact with her.

Leah looked from the bags of food in his hand to his indifferent face and opened the door wider for him to come in

"Sure you… "

He lets out a tutting sound as he shakes his head "His note literally warned you about letting strangers into your home and yet you still want me to come in?" he asked with a raised brow and a disapproving look.

"What?" she let out a nervous laugh as she subconsciously took a step back in fright, the hairs on her body stood still forming goosebumps as several thoughts occupied her mind

Noticing this, the man sighed and pushed past her walking into her kitchen "Don't worry, I won't hurt you, Bru… Stephen asked me to drop this breakfast off for you and make sure you eat them, My name is Antonio by the way" he explained as he shuffled through her small kitchen plating the three-course Italian breakfast.

"Stephen?" Leah asked as she stood behind him, watching him expertly serve the meal he had bought for her.

"The man with the knife wound from last night? You know the one you help band up?" Antonio asked in bewilderment at her innocence and naivety.

How can you just allow strangers into your home?

Who does that in this day and age? he thought.

"Oh, so his name is Stephen? He was too far gone for me to ask his name last night and he left before I woke up this morning so there was no opportunity to ask his name" she explained trying her best to justify herself and free herself from the judgmental look he was giving her.

"Do you often invite strangers into your apartment?"

"It's not every time, I meet an injured stranger lying down by the roadside"

"In a dark alley," Antonio argued "Where bad things happen the most" he added, swatting her hands away as she reached for a biscotti

"Now you sound just like my mum" Leah mumbled as she rubbed her hands

"You can't touch my masterpiece when you look like someone who just crawled out of the bin, go get a shower young lady!"

She glared at him playfully and rushed back into her room to prepare for the day. While she was gone, Antonio brought out a square-shaped box from his apron pocket, in which lay three tiny cameras, he placed them around the house where they could easily monitor the things going on around.

One in the small living room, one in the narrow hallway and the other in the kitchen.

Soon she returned fully dressed in blue high-waisted skinny jeans and a white baggy top with a cute puppy design paired with white sneakers. She placed her bag on the couch and took her seat beside the table full of food.

"Heading out?" Antonio asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee

"Yes, I have an afternoon class plus I need to get some things for my project" she explained between bites

Antonio watched her silently as she ate the meals with a happy and comfortable face "You trust way too easily" he pointed out feeling exasperated by her innocence and carefree attitude.

"That food could have been poisoned, I could be an assassin sent to kill you, I could be a criminal, a rapist anything, and you still allowed me in, no questions asked? What if I wasn't from the person you saved last night, what if I was from the people who tried to kill him?"

He couldn't quite wrap his head around her character. He had lived long enough to know innocent people die first.

She shrugged, sipping her coffee before answering him "You could be all that and I'd still allow you in, what do you think my tiny arms would do if you came after my life? If not in my apartment it could be done outside. Plus I learnt this from my mother and it grew on me"

'Damn, is Maria as trusting as this?' Antonio groaned as his mind wandered to his little sister

"Plus, you have no reason to kill me, I'm not involved in your world" she added

'Oh, Lawd! She's no fit for the boss, too trusting'

He stood up and helped her pack the leftover

"First lesson, People in our world don't need a reason to kill"